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Spirit of St Louis
Here at Lehmann House bed and Breakfast we love the history of St Louis and there is nothing more famous than the "Spirit of St Louis"
In June 2024 the Spirit of St Louis Airport will hold the wwww.spirit-airshow.com, tickets will go on sale in the Winter of 2023, book early and stay with us at Lehmann House Bed and Breakfast.
The Spirit of St. Louis is a famous custom-built airplane that was flown by Charles Lindbergh on a non-stop flight from New York to Paris, France on May 20-21, 1927. This single-engine monoplane was designed and built specifically for this historic flight, which lasted more than 33 hours and covered a distance of over 3,600 miles.
The Spirit of St. Louis was named in honor of the city of St. Louis, Missouri, where the airplane was designed and built. It was constructed by the Ryan Aircraft Company, which won a competition to build the airplane sponsored by a group of St. Louis businessmen. The airplane was funded by a group of investors, including the famous St. Louis philanthropist Harold M. Pitcairn.
The Spirit of St. Louis was a remarkable feat of engineering for its time. It was powered by a single Wright J-5C Whirlwind engine, which was specially modified for the flight. The airplane was also equipped with a radio and other navigation instruments, including a compass and a sextant. Lindbergh famously used these instruments to navigate across the Atlantic and find his way to Paris.
After the flight, the Spirit of St. Louis became a symbol of American aviation and innovation. It was flown across the United States on a victory tour, and Lindbergh became a national hero. The airplane is now preserved in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., where it is one of the most popular exhibits.
Overall, the Spirit of St. Louis is an important part of aviation history and a testament to the ingenuity and determination of the people who designed and built it. Its historic flight paved the way for many other achievements in aviation, and it remains an inspiration to people around the world today.